Depression decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder disability, effective June 30, 2001. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.

The veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring necessary special home adaptations as he already has the required rating and does not meet other eligibility criteria.

The veteran's claims for PTSD service connection were denied, and his headaches with tic douloureux symptoms (status-post head injury) were granted a 30% rating. His claim for Bell's Palsy was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete VA medical records and the need for further review by a Decision Review Officer.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disability was not incurred during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's death was caused by VA treatment or negligence, and thus denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression with psychotic features and schizoaffective disorder, had its onset during active service. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression is not due to disease or injury incurred in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for elbow pain, headaches, liver and abdominal pain, and major depressive disorder due to a lack of objective indications of these conditions during or since service.

The Board found that the appellant's depression and heart disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied her claims.

The veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from September 1 to September 2, 2004. The case is being remanded due to the need for clarification on Medicare payments and outstanding balances, a request for a VA opinion regarding whether any condition treated was related to her service-connected disabilities, and the need to verify the veteran's contentions about ambulance diversion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of depression, hypertension, and asthma were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dysthymic disorder warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, effective February 10, 2004.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient supporting evidence for the veteran's claimed in-service stressors. The preponderance of the evidence did not support service connection for any psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, sleep apnea, and a chronic respiratory disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, finding no legal basis for a prior effective date.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, chronic, undifferentiated type; depression endogenous (claimed as a nervous disorder) to include as secondary to service connected diabetes mellitus type II, hearing loss, and otitis media.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depressive disorder is related to her service in Kuwait and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disorder, claimed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for and assigned initial ratings of 10 percent each for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, effective September 13, 2004.